By neglecting two estates he was retained to represent and by failing to take action
in civil actions he was hired to defend, the respondent, Bruce R. Snyder, violated this Court's
ethical rules for attorneys. The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission charged
the respondent by a three-count verified complaint of violations of both the Code of
Professional Responsibility for Attorneys at LawSee footnote
1and the Rules of Professional Conduct for
Attorneys at Law in that he engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, deceit, or

misrepresentation; he engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice; and he
failed to act with reasonable diligence and promptness in representing his clients. The
respondent and the Commission have tendered for our approval a Statement of
Circumstances and Conditional Agreement for Discipline in resolution of this matter.
Our
jurisdiction in this case is derived from the respondent's admission to the bar of this state on
September 25, 1963.
Under Count I of the Verified Complaint for Disciplinary Action, the parties agree that
a client retained the respondent in March 1985, to defend two mortgage foreclosure actions
and to collect an outstanding promissory note. In March 1987, the client asked the
respondent to file his case, and paid the necessary filing fee. The respondent told his client
he would file the case, prompting his client to provide him with a filing fee. After checking
court records in July 1987, the client learned that his case had not yet been filed. After two
attempts to arrange meetings with respondent, the client requested the return of his file, and
the respondent complied in September 1987.
Under Count II, the parties agree that the respondent was hired to represent an estate
in September 1987. After completing an inventory of the estate in December 1987, the
respondent failed to respond to court orders to file the estate's 1986 and 1987 tax returns.
Throughout 1989, 1990, and 1991, the heirs appeared by counsel to object or offer motions
and petitions pertaining to the respondent's administration of the estate. In October 1991,
the heirs filed an action against the respondent, which resulted in a settlement agreement
whereby the respondent agreed to immediately release $14,000 to the heirs and pay $25,000

plus the costs of the heirs' lawsuit in exchange for a sixty day forbearance on pursuing the
court action. When the respondent failed to meet his obligations under the settlement
agreement, the heirs filed a stipulation of judgment in December 1991.
The parties agree that under Count III, the respondent was hired to assist in the
administration of an estate in May 1994. The respondent failed to discuss with the personal
representatives a fee arrangement at the outset of the representation, but assured them that
the estate was not complicated and could be settled within five months. The personal
representatives heard nothing further from respondent for six months. The respondent did
file an inventory of the estate assets in September 1994, more than four months beyond the
statutory time limit. When the respondent forwarded an Indiana Inheritance Tax Return and
a closing statement reflecting his fees
to the personal representatives, they became concerned
by what they considered to be an excessive fee. One of the personal representatives met with
respondent in November 1994 to discuss the fee. The personal representative asked for an
itemized accounting and explanation of the fee. Five days after this meeting, the respondent
sent an unitemized invoice which the personal representative paid fearing that the respondent
would not close the estate until his fee was paid in full. The respondent failed to collect any
of the estate's assets on behalf of the personal representatives, and at the time of the closing
of the estate none of the estate assets had been transferred to the personal representatives or
distributed to the heirs. Numerous attempts by the personal representatives to contact the
respondent went unanswered, and eventually the personal representatives were forced to
retain other counsel to conclude the estate.

We find that through his repeated failure to act on his client's behalf, his failure to
keep clients informed of the status of their claims and his failure to provide information to
help them make informed decisions, the respondent violated Ind.Professional Conduct Rule
1.3See footnote
2 and Prof.Cond.R. 1.4(a) and 1.4(b).See footnote
3 The respondent's failure to expedite litigation and
to disclose material facts to a tribunal violate Prof.Cond.R. 3.2See footnote
4 and 3.3(a)(2).See footnote
5 His general
pattern of neglect and inattention to cases entrusted to him was prejudicial to the
administration of justice in violation of Prof.Cond.R. 8.4(d).See footnote
6 Finally, through respondent's
conduct, the parties agree that D.R. 1-102(A)(4),(5), and (6) have been violatedSee footnote
7 as well as
D.R. 6-101(A)(3)See footnote
8 and 7-101(A)(2).See footnote
9
Having found misconduct, this Court must now assess the appropriateness of the
agreed sanction. In so doing, this Court examines the surrounding circumstances of the
misconduct, the respondent's state of mind, the duty that was violated through the
misconduct, any actual or potential injury to the client, the risk to the public, the duty of this
Court to preserve the integrity of the legal profession, and any mitigating or aggravating
factors. Matter of Christoff and Holmes, 690 N.E. 2d 1135 (Ind. 1997);
Matter of Darling,
685 N.E.2d 1066 (Ind. 1997); Matter of Conway, 658 N.E.2d 592 (Ind. 1995).
The parties agree that the appropriate sanction for the respondent's misconduct is a
six month suspension from the practice of law without automatic reinstatement. They agree
that several factors mitigate his misconduct, including the respondent's generally good
reputation within the community in which he practices and his involvements with local
charitable organizations. Further, he acknowledged the seriousness of his actions and
expressed regret at the impact of his misconduct on the clients who entrusted their legal
matters to him.
The three counts set out in this matter reflect a pattern of neglect and inattention to
client interests, as well as purposeful misleading of clients about the status of their cases.
His lack of candor with his clients adds a deeper dimension of culpability to the respondent's
otherwise neglectful actions and convinces us that a significant period of suspension is
warranted. We therefore find we should accept the parties' proposed resolution of this case.
Accordingly, the respondent, Bruce R. Snyder, is hereby suspended from the practice of law
for a period of not less than six (6) months, beginning April 19, 1999. At the conclusion of

this suspension, the respondent will be eligible to petition for reinstatement under
Ind.Admission and Discipline Rule 23(4).
The Clerk of this Court is directed to provide notice of this order in accordance with
Admis.Disc.R. 23(3)(d) and to provide the clerk of the United States Court of Appeals for
the Seventh Circuit, the clerk of each of the United States District Courts in this state, and
the clerk of each of the United States Bankruptcy Courts in this state with the last known
address of respondent as reflected in the records of the Clerk.
Costs of this proceeding are assessed against respondent.

Footnote: 1
The Rules of Professional Conduct were adopted by an amendment to Admis.Disc.R. 23(2)
January 1, 1987. Because some of the alleged misconduct occurred before that date, the Commission charged
the respondent under the Code of Professional Responsibility as well as the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Footnote: 2
Professional Conduct Rule 1.3 provides that a lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and
promptness in representing a client.
Footnote: 3
Professional Conduct Rule 1.4(a) provides that a lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed
about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information. Professional
Conduct Rule 1.4(b) requires that a lawyer explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the
client to make informed decisions regarding the representation.
Footnote: 4
Professional Conduct Rule 3.2 requires that a lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to expedite
litigation consistent with the interests of the client.
Footnote: 5
Professional Conduct Rule 3.3(a)(2) provides that a lawyer shall not knowingly fail to disclose a
material fact to a tribunal when disclosure is necessary to avoid assisting a criminal or fraudulent act against a
tribunal by the client.
Footnote: 6
Professional Conduct Rule 8.4(d) provides that it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage
in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice.
Footnote: 7
Disciplinary Rule
1-102(A)(4) prohibits a lawyer from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty,
fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
Footnote: 8
Disciplinary Rule 6-101(A)(3) states that a lawyer shall not neglect a legal matter entrusted to him.
Footnote: 9
Disciplinary Rule 7-101(A)(2) states that a lawyer shall not intentionally fail to carry out a contract
of employment entered into with a client for professional services, except for withdrawal as permitted under
the rules.